REDUCING THE NEWGRANGE BUS SERVICE A BACKWARD STEP – HANNIGAN
Issued : Friday 12 March, 2010
The news that bus services are being cut to Newgrange has been greeted with dismay by local Meath Senator Dominic Hannigan.
Speaking today he said: “This is a time for encouraging more tourists to Meath and not taking away their access to one of Ireland’s only two World Heritage sites.
“The taxpayer has given Bus Eireann €27 million in subsidies to keep it operating and yet it is making decisions that are working to undermine Meath’s local tourism industry.
“Money could have been invested in attracting tourists to the bus service. Bus Eireann engages in these types of promotions with tours to various parts of the South East and bus tours around Dublin city. Money invested by the company could have returned a profit and would have helped local businesses who are dependent on tourism increase their own profits.
“All of this would have contributed to employment to the area in Meath where 50% of those aged 25 years and under are unemployed. That this is happening is an absolute shame.
“I am going to write to Bus Eireann demanding a full explanation and requesting a meeting to discuss the reduction and what could be done to stop it.”
